ScotRail has been called out after announcing it will run extra trains to The Open golf at Royal Troon after TRNSMT attendees were left 'stranded' due to a lack of services on Sunday.
Thousands of revellers flocked to Glasgow Green over the weekend for the popular city music festival but were quickly left outraged after ScotRail announced that Sunday services were not being extended beyond 6pm despite 50,000 people attending the event that day.
⚠️ Update for customers travelling from TRNSMT ⚠️
— ScotRail (@ScotRail) July 14, 2024
Services terminate before the festival finishes. Please consider alternative arrangements when travelling home from TRNSMT today. pic.twitter.com/F79MOaMRj4
It comes as ScotRail is currently operating a temporary timetable due to a dispute over pay.
(Image: Image by Gordon Terris from TRNSMT 2024)
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Now, the national transport service has announced they will provide extra services during busy times to Ayrshire Station between Thursday and Sunday, July 18 to 21, and additional capacity will be available on existing services.
ScotRail has also teamed up with Stagecoach to offer a two-in-one Golflink ticket, which includes both return rail travel to Troon station, as well as a regular shuttle bus.
We’ll run extra trains for fans heading to @TheOpen at @RoyalTroonGC between 18 - 21 July, and add more seats for practice days. Get a GolfLink ticket & save time – it includes travel on our trains to/from Troon as well as @StagecoachWScot buses between the station & the course.
— ScotRail (@ScotRail) July 16, 2024
But Labour politicians MSP Paul Sweeney and MSP Pauline McNeill have branded the move as completely unacceptable.
Speaking to the Glasgow Times, Paul said: "It is completely unacceptable that ScotRail did not run any additional services, with all final trains for the day departing Glasgow stations before the end of the festival.
“This coming weekend, the Open at Royal Troon will be serviced by additional trains ensuring that people from across Scotland can make their way home after one of Golf’s biggest events.
“It is not good enough that our national train operator supports one major event but not the other – it is a stark reminder of the inadequacies of our public transport system."
He added: "ScotRail is publicly owned by the Scottish Government. Its business model should not be reliant on voluntary overtime from train drivers to fulfil its timetable due to a long-term failure to properly workforce plan."
(Image: Image of Paul Sweeney)
MSP Pauline McNeill, who has been campaigning for extended subway times for over a decade, said: "I think it is sad that year after year ScotRail can never crack it when it comes to transport for the biggest event in Glasgow, certainly in terms of music.
"It is completely unacceptable that the biggest city in Scotland is unable to get people home from a music event but can do so for an open in Troon.
"It seems that Glasgow can’t cope with a big event like this in the city. The lack of transport is a safety issue but it also means parents are most likely coming in with their cars to get their kids as they have no other choice, and that isn’t good either."
(Image: Pauline McNeill MSP (Image: PA))
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ScotRail have said that the decision for extra services was made as TRNSMT is a late finishing weekend event whereas The Open is a daytime event and people travelling to and from are mainly on one route - unlike the many routes for TRNSMT.
Mark Ilderton, ScotRail service delivery director, said: “We were advising people attending TRSNMT to consider their travel options home after the event finished due to our temporary timetable in place. We’re sorry for any inconvenience this caused.
“We want to resolve the pay dispute with the trade unions and remain fully committed to further discussions.”
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